GLACIATED UPLANDS
CAIRNGORMS
LANDSCAPE
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Large mountain mass of granite
Several summits over 900m
Heavily glaciated
Many corries facing north
Major glacial troughs
Landuse 1
• Highest mountains are wildscape
• Recreational uses – climbing, walking.
• Corries on north slope of Cairngorm for
skiing
Landuse 2
• Middle height land for forestry.
• Some native (Scots Pine) estate managed
• Some Forestry Commission plantings of
extensive coniferous – monotonous
• Some deer forest (open moorland
managed for shooting)
• Public access on Forest Walks
Landuse 3
• Low ground in valley mainly farmland
• Largely mixed and pastoral with sheep on
higher ground
• Recreational use of lochs – boating,
canoeing and fishing
• Urban development in Aviemore area.
Conflicts
• Recreation and Tourism create pressures
on upland – conflict with internationally
valued wildscape ecology
• Estates protect upland for deer
management and shooting- conflict with
public access
• Forestry need to shut out deer to allow
regeneration but fences restrict public
access
Mountain Conflicts
• Cairngorm Summit has a world recognised
significance as an alpine environment
• Conservation is requirement under
Environmental objectives
• Overuse by walkers leads to erosion of
footpaths damaging the fragile ecosystem
and plant habitats
• Skiing in the thin frozen snow conditions
strips the vegetation and scars the hillside
The Issues
• The approval of the Funicular Railway went
against all scientific advice. It was opposed by
environmental groups but backed by Highland
Council
• Scottish Natural Heritage originally opposed the
plan but agreed after restrictions on summer
walkers leaving the top station were included.
• Is the National Park able to control these issues
without full planning control